Closet rod assembly

Abstract

A closet rod assembly to protect the outer surface of the rod from scratches which comprises a rod, a cover, and two rod end members, the cover and two rod end members being connected to the rod. The rod has two ends and an outer surface, and at least one channel that runs along the rod's outer surface. The channel allows a user to attach a cover, thereby protecting the rod from being contacted by clothes hangers. The cover has two ends and at least one ridge, the ridge being designed to fit within the channel in the rod. The inner surface of the cover is disposed about a portion of the rod's outer surface adjacent to the channel. Additionally, the present closet rod assembly includes two rod end members, each end of the rod being engaged to a rod end member, thereby preventing the rod from rotating.

1 . A closet rod assembly comprising:
 (a) a rod, the rod having a proximal rod end and a distal rod end, the rod further having a rod outer surface, the rod outer surface having a rod length extending between the proximal rod end and the distal rod end, the rod outer surface defining at least one channel;   (b) a cover, the cover having a proximal cover end and a distal cover end, the cover having a cover length extending between the proximal cover end and the distal cover end, the cover having at least one cover ridge, the at least one cover ridge being receivingly engaged by the at least one channel, the cover defining a cover inner surface, the cover inner surface disposed about at least a portion of the rod outer surface adjacent to the at least one channel; and   (c) a proximal rod end member and a distal rod end member, the proximal rod end member engaged to the proximal rod end and the distal rod end member engaged to the distal rod ends,   wherein the proximal rod end member comprises a proximal cap and a proximal flange, the proximal flange having a proximal flange end, the proximal flange end engaged to the proximal cap, the proximal flange constructed and arranged to receivingly engage the proximal rod end, the proximal flange being disposed about the rod outer surface adjacent to the proximal rod end, and   wherein the proximal flange further comprises a first distal flange end, the first distal flange end abutting the proximal cover end, and   wherein the proximal flange defines a proximal flange inner surface, the proximal flange inner surface having at least one flange ridge, the at least one flange ridge being receivingly engaged by the at least one channel.   
   
   
       2 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover further comprises a cover outer surface, and the assembly further comprises at least one hanger, the at least one hanger being slidingly engaged only to the cover outer surface. 
   
   
       3 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rod length is greater than the cover length. 
   
   
       4 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the proximal rod end member and the distal rod end member is engaged to a vertical surface. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the distal rod end member comprises a distal cap and a distal flange, the distal flange having a second distal flange end, the second distal flange end being engaged to the distal cap, the distal flange being disposed about a portion of the rod outer surface adjacent to the distal rod end. 
   
   
       9 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the distal cap has a periphery, the second distal flange end extending along a portion of the periphery. 
   
   
       10 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the distal cover end abuts a portion of the periphery. 
   
   
       11 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the rod comprises a cross-sectional geometry, the cross-sectional geometry being selected from the group consisting of substantially round, substantially oval, substantially square, and substantially rectangular. 
   
   
       12 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the rod is substantially cylindrical. 
   
   
       13 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the rod outer surface of the substantially cylindrical rod defines a first arcuate shape, the cover inner surface defining a second arcuate shape, the second arcuate shape being substantially similar to the first arcuate shape. 
   
   
       14 . A closet rod assembly comprising:
 (a) a substantially cylindrical rod, the rod having a proximal rod end and a distal rod end, the rod further having a rod outer surface, the rod outer surface having a rod length extending between the proximal rod end and the distal rod end, the rod outer surface defining at least one channel, the rod outer surface of the substantially cylindrical rod defining a first arcuate shape;   (b) a cover, the cover having a proximal cover end and a distal cover end, the cover having a cover length extending between the proximal cover end and the distal cover end, the cover length being less than the rod length, the cover having at least one cover ridge, the at least one cover ridge being receivingly engaged by the at least one channel, the cover defining a cover inner surface, the cover inner surface defining a second arcuate shape, the second arcuate shape being substantially similar to the first arcuate shape, the cover inner surface disposed about at least a portion of the rod outer surface adjacent to the at least one channel; and   (c) a proximal rod end member and a distal rod end member,
 (i) the proximal rod end member comprises a proximal cap and a proximal flange, the proximal flange having a proximal flange end and a first distal flange end, the proximal flange end engaged to the proximal cap, the proximal flange constructed and arranged to receivingly engage the proximal rod end, the proximal flange being disposed about the rod outer surface adjacent to the proximal rod end, the first distal flange end abutting the proximal cover end, the proximal flange defining a proximal flange inner surface, the proximal flange inner surface having at least one flange ridge, the at least one flange ridge being receivingly engaged by the at least one channel, 
 (ii) the distal rod end member comprises a distal cap and a distal flange, the distal cap having a periphery, the distal flange having a second distal flange end, the second distal flange end being engaged to the distal cap and extending along a portion of the periphery, the distal flange being disposed about a portion of the rod outer surface adjacent to the distal rod end, the distal cover end abutting a portion of the periphery. 
   
   
   
       15 . The closet rod assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the cover further comprises a cover outer surface, and the assembly further comprises at least one hanger, the at least one hanger being slidingly engaged only to the cover outer surface. 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A kit for making a closet rod assembly comprising:
 (a) a rod, the rod having a proximal rod end and a distal rod end, the rod further having a rod outer surface, the rod outer surface having a rod length extending between the proximal rod end and the distal rod end, the rod outer surface defining at least one channel;   (b) a cover, the cover having a proximal cover end and a distal cover end, the cover having a cover length extending between the proximal cover end and the distal cover end, the cover having at least one cover ridge, the at least one cover ridge being receivingly engaged by the at least one channel, the cover defining a cover inner surface, the cover inner surface disposed about at least a portion of the rod outer surface adjacent to the at least one channel;   (c) a proximal rod end member and a distal rod end member, the proximal rod end member engaged to the proximal rod end and the distal rod end member engaged to the distal rod end,   wherein the proximal rod end member comprises a proximal cap and a proximal flange, the proximal flange having a proximal flange end, the proximal flange end engaged to the proximal cap, the proximal flange constructed and arranged to receivingly engage the proximal rod end, the proximal flange being disposed about the rod outer surface adjacent to the proximal rod end, and   wherein the proximal flange further comprises a first distal flange end, the first distal flange end abutting the proximal cover end, and   wherein the proximal flange defines a proximal flange inner surface, the proximal flange inner surface having at least one flange ridge, the at least one flange ridge being receivingly engaged by the at least one channel; and   (d) assembly instructions, the assembly instructions comprising information on how to assemble the elements of the closet rod assembly.